Indy Racing League

Reigning IndyCar Series champion Will Power claimed the pole for Sunday's season-opening race, while his teammates, Simon Pagenaud, Helio Castroneves and Juan Pablo Montoya, qualified second through fourth to give Team Penske a sweep of the first two starting rows.

IndyCar teams have been familiarizing themselves with the new aero kit in preseason testing earlier this month. In Friday's first practice session for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Team Penske driver and reigning series champion Will Power, in his Chevy-powered car, topped the time charts with a lap around this 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit in 1 minute, 1.4709 seconds (105.416 mph). His teammates, Juan Pablo Montoya and Helio Castroneves, were second and third, respectively, on the charts. Jack Hawksworth, driving for A.J. Foyt Enterprises this season, was the quickest Honda driver, placing sixth.

IndyCar Series drivers Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan as well as NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitors Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson gave Chip Ganassi Racing the victory in Sunday's 53rd running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Helio Castroneves won the pole position and earned a bonus point, while his Team Penske teammate and championship leader, Will Power, qualified 21st for Saturday night's IndyCar Series season-ending race at Auto Club Speedway.

Power currently holds a 50-point lead over Castroneves, while Pagenaud trails by 81 points. Castroneves earned a bonus point for winning Friday' qualifying at Fontana. Power qualified 21st, and Pagenaud placed 13th.